NFUS unveils its political wish-list

AHEAD of the general election, NFU Scotland yesterday came out with its own manifesto, setting out its political wish-list.

President Jim McLaren identified three issues at the top of national, European and global political agendas: climate change; food security and energy security.

"In addition, at home, we have seen a renaissance in consumer interest in local, high-quality food and drink. Therefore, the importance of Scottish and UK agriculture in providing plentiful, safe and nutritious food in a sustainable fashion is growing. Our ability to produce renewable energy is also growing in importance."

For much of the Labour administration, NFUS has been campaigning for fairness in the supply chain. This culminated in a bill that could have seen the creation of a supermarket ombudsman to police the Grocery Supply Code of Practice. In its Programme for Government, NFUS requests that the momentum behind the creation of a "supermarket" ombudsman is not lost.

On climate change, NFUS urges politicians to ensure that policies are properly integrated to take account of all aspects of land use, and sustainable production and consumption. Looking to the future of the European Union's common agricultural policy, the union manifesto advocates a system of farm support focused on productive agriculture and delivered to the individual undertaking that activity.

In response to the expectation that future support payments are made according to an area-based model, the union also asks that the new system addresses current anomalies and is introduced without destabilising businesses.

In particular, the NFUS says the situation whereby animal health and welfare policy is devolved to Scotland but the budget remains with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, needs to be addressed urgently.